Owls back in business

Paul Thompson
Sheffield Wednesday

SHEFFIELD Wednesday’s new boys are giving Gary Megson a lift - though he heads into a new season three players short of having the squad he wants.

The Owls manager says he would not swap his back four for any other in League One and is delighted with defensive signings Rob Jones, Danny Batth and Julian Bennett plus midfield men Jose Semedo and David Prutton, who all face Rochdale at Hillsborough tomorrow.

With Lewis Buxton making up the back four, Megson said: “We’ve got four committed, quality, big defenders, and players who can do the same type of job if an issue happens.

“I’m delighted with Semedo and Prutton; they’re good players and good lads. They epitomise what we’re looking for at Sheffield Wednesday.

“Other positives include Chris Sedgwick - he has stepped it up and has had a terrific pre-season, as has Liam Palmer - and Jermaine Johnson.

“Losing JJ has been a big setback to us.”

Megson wants to sign an extra wide man and two forwards, but takes heart from pre-season preparations and the way the Owls matched Premier League side Stoke last Saturday.

“We have the semblance of a strong team. If I can get the players I want, we would have a team arguably as strong as any other in the division, though not the strongest squad - there are other people who have really big squads and decent quality.

“We have 17 outfield players and three good goalkeepers, and a couple of the players have knocks. We still have quality players; we just haven’t got enough of them. We’re all trying as hard as we can to bring in the right ones.”